And as unwelcome as this speculation is for Everton and their fans, they had better get used to it because it isn't going to go away.

The bottom line is that a player of Fellaini's quality is always going to be targeted by the richer clubs, who can offer him the chance to lift some silverware (I won't say bigger clubs because they are very few sides in Britain larger than Everton).

And let's be honest here, it's only natural that Fellaini's head should be turned as it has been this season.

As the old cliche goes, a player's career at the top level can be relatively short and Fellaini is approaching his best years.

The question facing him is does he want to spend these next few seasons battling with Everton to scrape into the Europa League and maybe reach the odd Cup final?

Or does he want to join someone like Chelsea or Manchester City where he will have the opportunity to win Champions Leagues, Premier Leagues and FA Cups?

Now I know Everton fans will say Fellaini should be loyal because they picked him up from the relative-obscurity of Standard Liege in 2008 and turned him into one of Europe's most-coveted midfielders.

But most people in any walk of life, given the opportunity to progress their careers and earn more money, would take it.

Fellaini's case is no different and while the fans do not want him to go, this is just the way the world is.

And this just doesn't apply to Everton.

Look at the on-going Luis Suarez saga at Liverpool.

Edinson Cavani has stoked that one up again by claiming his Uruguay pal could leave Liverpool in 2014 if the Reds cannot make it back to the Champions League.

Even City's zillions can't protect them and they look like they could face a fight to hang on to Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure.

Manchester United couldn't keep Cristiano Ronaldo away from Real Madrid, despite winning a trophy cabinet full of Champions League and Premier League titles.

Apart from maybe Real, Barcelona and Chelsea, every other club in the world can be vulnerable when it comes to hanging on to their best players.

That's why Evertonians had better get used to all this speculation linking Fellaini with a move away and it is only going to increase.

Ultimately it will probably come down to Everton getting as much as they can for Fellaini - as they did for Joleon Lescott, Jack Rodwell and Mikel Arteta - and reinvesting it wisely.